Director
Dr. Qi wang
Qi Wang is Joan K. and Irwin M. Jacobs professor of human development and psychology at Cornell University. Her research integrates developmental, cognitive, and sociocultural perspectives to examine the mechanisms underlying the development of a variety of social-cognitive skills, including autobiographical memory, self, future thinking, and emotion knowledge. She also studies the impact of Internet and social media as a cultural force unique to our time on memory, sociocognitive functioning, and well-being. A graduate of Peking University, China, Qi Wang earned a Ph.D. in psychology in 2000 at Harvard University. She has received many honors and awards and has over two hundred publications in scientific journals and in volumes of collected works. Her single-authored book, The Autobiographical Self in Time and Culture (2013, Oxford University Press), is regarded as a definitive work on culture and autobiographical memory.
Graduate researchers
Nazike Mert
Nazike Mert is a Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Science. She received her M.A. in cognitive psychology from Bogazici University, Turkey. Her research focuses on the impact of sociocultural factors on recalling the past and imagining the future. More specifically, she is interested in exploring how individuals from different cultures envision their personal and national futures. Other than research, she enjoys swing dancing and traveling.
Ezgi Bilgin
Ezgi is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Psychology with a minor in cognitive science. She received her M.A. in cognitive psychology from Koç University, Turkey. She is broadly interested in social influences that shape memory. In particular, her research focuses on the impact of social media on remembering and forgetting processes. Currently, she is exploring how social endorsement cues (e.g., likes, shares) affect memory online. Besides, she is an avid runner, and one of her dreams is to run in the Boston marathon.
CAGLA DUMAN
Cagla is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Psychology with a minor in cognitive science. Before joining the Culture & Cognition Lab, she received her M.A. degree in cognitive psychology from Bogazici University, Turkey. In the broadest sense, she is interested in understanding autobiographical memory processes. Her current research focuses on understanding the relationship between spatial cognition and autobiographical memory, as well as the influence of emotion on memory characteristics. Other than research, Cagla enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time in nature.
Undergraduate researchers
Isabella Diaz
Isabella is a Junior in the College of Human Ecology. She is majoring in Human Development with minors in Inequality Studies and Law & Society. Isabella joined Professor Wang’s Culture & Cognition Lab with an interest in how cultural beliefs impact behavior. Aside from academics, Isabella is a member of Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity and a Human Ecology Ambassador. In her spare time, she enjoys playing lacrosse and baking.
Quinn Jiang
Quinn is a sophomore in CHE majoring in Human Development, intending to minor in Moral Psychology, Business, and Data Science. Quinn is passionate about a variety of topics in social sciences, including how past experiences impact moral judgements and decision making. As a multicultural individual who has studied in four countries, she joined Professor Wang’s lab hoping to further understand how cultural factors contribute to human cognition and influence behaviors later in live. Outside of academics, Quinn is engaged in student organizations of music instrument performing and stage drama directing. Quinn is also involved in business clubs, helping clients tackle business problems from a behavioral science perspective.
